Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Four Cultivations
(continued)
4. Exclusive and Sustained Practice - “Sustained” does not necessarily mean from month to month, year to year. Cultivation of Sustained Practice means, to undertake consistently and exclusively, the five primary practices and the Five Paths of Invocation without cessation, from our initial resolution until the day we die.
Some people make their resolutions early, others late. Even if we do so today and pass away before the day is over, it is still considered sustained practice as long as we do not lose our resolve.
Sustained practice also applies to the three other cultivations. We would not gain rebirth in the Pure Land if we failed to sustain our respectful, exclusive, and uninterrupted practices. So, we speak of sustained practice with reference to the previous three cultivations. After discussing each of those three practices Master Shandao instructs us , “to do so all life long without stopping – that is Cultivation of Sustained Practice.”
四修
4. 長時修
所謂「長時」,並非必須年月長遠,但從初發心之後,相續專修五正行、五念門,直到臨終,於其中間,無有中止,即是長時修。此長時修為其餘三修所通用,無論恭敬修、無餘修、無間修,若中途退轉,皆不得往生,故知為成就前之三修而說長時修,因此善導大師各於三修之下而說「畢命為期,誓不中止,即是長時修」。
Namo Amituofo!
